BitTorrent has announced a beta version of its web client BitTorrent Surf available for Chrome and Firefox, four months after the release of the alpha version.

The BitTorrent Surf browser extension is now available in beta testing form for Chrome and Firefox and allows users to monitor their current downloads from within the browser window.

Appearing in the top right hand corner of the browser, the BitTorrent Surf icon offers information on all currently downloading torrents and from there users can search for and download files. The health of each download is also displayed, meaning users can adjust the file to make sure that they are getting the highest-quality media on offer.

Replacing the alpha version launched in January, the BitTorrent Surf beta version introduces a recommendation system, prioritising featured content from BitTorrent and its partners. The beta version also includes a status window feature, allowing a quick glance monitoring system that includes the download and upload speeds.

The new BitTorrent in-browser extension auto-detects sites, adds File Size to search results, and allows users to save their favourite sites and build their own search engine for file downloads.

“It is in early stages, but has great potential,” said BitTorrent’s Christian Averill in an email to ITProPortal. “The aim here is to facilitate discoverability of good content in the BitTorrent ecosystem.”

In the company’s March announcement, BitTorrent introduced a peer-to-peer live streaming service, which it claims “eliminates bandwidth, cost, and infrastructure as broadcast barriers.”

BitTorrent also revealed its Sync system. Akin to cloud-storage devices like Dropbox, Google and the Apple iCloud, Sync will let users synchronise personal files across multiple devices. The service was in pre-alpha stage back in January, with BitTorrent looking for volunteers to take it to the next testing stage.